What is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?
Healthy and Safe Surgical Treatments
Expertise and Precision in Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is a comprehensive field of dentistry that performs the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, teeth, and jaws.
Thanks to developing technologies and modern anesthetic methods, surgical procedures are now performed with maximum comfort, painlessly, and with fast recovery times.
Which Treatments Does Maxillofacial Surgery Cover?
The field of oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a wide range of treatments. The most frequently performed procedures are:
Impacted Tooth Operations (Wisdom Teeth)
Wisdom teeth that do not have enough space in the jawbone and remain impacted or semi-impacted can cause pain, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth. The surgical extraction of these teeth is one of the most common surgical procedures.
Complicated Tooth Extractions
Teeth that cannot be removed with a normal extraction (e.g., heavily decayed, broken at the root level) are removed through surgical methods with minimal trauma.
Apicoectomy (Root End Resection)
It is a surgical procedure applied to clean the inflamed tissue at the root tip and preserve the tooth in cases where root canal treatment is insufficient or an infection develops at the root tip.
Cyst and Tumor Operations
It covers the surgical removal of cystic or tumoral formations that develop in the soft tissues of the mouth (palate, cheek, lip) or in the jawbones, and sending them for pathological examination.
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
Surgical arrangements made in the jawbone and gums to provide a more stable and comfortable foundation before the application of a prosthesis (denture).
Are Surgical Operations Painful?
No. Operations in oral and maxillofacial surgery are routinely performed under local anesthesia. For this reason, pain or discomfort is not felt during the procedure.
After the operation, depending on the severity of the procedure, a slight swelling or mild pain may occur. This situation is a normal part of the healing process and can be easily controlled with painkillers and antibiotics prescribed by the dentist. Additionally, applying ice as recommended significantly reduces swelling.
What Should Be Considered After Surgery?
For a fast and healthy recovery after surgical procedures, the following recommendations should be followed:
- The sterile gauze placed over the wound area should be bitten tightly for about 30-45 minutes.
- Avoid eating or drinking anything for the first 2 hours, and consume warm, soft foods afterward. Very hot or cold foods should be avoided.
- Spitting, using a straw, or vigorous rinsing should be avoided for the first 24 hours, as this can dislodge the blood clot and prolong healing.
- Smoking should definitely be avoided during the healing period, as it impairs wound healing and increases the risk of infection.
- Medications prescribed by the physician must be used regularly.
- If stitches were placed, care should be taken when brushing the teeth in that area, and the control appointment for stitch removal should not be missed.
Conclusion
Surgical treatments in dentistry are reliable methods applied to eliminate infection, restore health, and provide the appropriate foundation for aesthetic/functional treatments. A comfortable treatment process is ensured with operations performed by expert hands under sterile conditions.